Match pack: Ebbsfleet United (A)

For the first time this season Cheltenham Town head into FA Cup action with a visit to Kent to take on National League side Ebbsfleet United on Saturday (3pm).

Michael Duff leads his charges into battle at the Kuflink Stadium looking to overcome a tricky test against a team operating a level below Sky Bet League Two.

The Robins take a break from league action after last weekend’s draw with Mansfield Town at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, which followed an eye-catching midweek Checkatrade Trophy win over Arsenal under 23s, with the focus on securing a place in the second round for the first time since a 2016 tie with Sutton United.

Ebbsfleet defeated Bostik Premier Worthing to get to this stage in the fourth qualifying round and will be opponents for the first time in over two decades this weekend.

Team news

Kevin Dawson and Sean Long are ruled out of Saturday’s trip through injury, with Aden Baldwin also a long-term absentee. Michael Duff has an otherwise fit squad to choose from this weekend.

Conor Thomas also faced the media before this weekend’s tie. Watch what he had to say here.

Opposition

It has been a busy time off the field at the Kufflink Stadium in the build up to Saturday. The experienced Garry Hill has been appointed as their new manager following the departure of Daryl McMahon earlier in the week.

Hill, who has managed a string of clubs in the fifth tier including Dagenham & Redbridge, Rushden & Diamonds and most recently Woking, takes charge of a side currently 15th in the National League, and who reached the National League play-offs last season.

Their squad boasts a number of talented players at National League level including former Gillingham target man Danny Kedwell, ex-Ipswich Town midfielder Andy Drury and Malta international Sam Magri.

Former Robins midfielder Bagasan Graham is also a member of their squad – he made 11 appearances in all competitions at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium between 2011 and 2012.

Previous meetings

The first time the two clubs came head-to-head was all the way back in the 1940s when Saturday’s opposition played under their former title of ‘Gravesend & Northfleet’.

Both sides also competed in the 1958 Southern League Cup final, with the Robins coming out on top in a two-legged affair, while the most recent clashes came in the 90s, in both the FA Trophy and Southern Premier Division before Cheltenham’s promotion to the Conference in 1997.

Segregation will be in place at the match and Cheltenham fans should use the ‘Away’ end at the stadium which can be found opposite the Shell Garage and Ford dealership.

If you are travelling to the game by car then you are strongly advised to park at Ebbsfleet International car park ‘C’ for a small fee of £3. It’s a five to seven minute walk to the stadium from here. The roads from the A2 to the roundabout outside the stadium are designated ‘clearways’ and any car parked is liable to receive a ticket.

It’s pay on the day and ticket prices are:

Adults £15

Concessions £12

Juniors (aged 12-16) £7

Under 12s £1

Coverage

Stay up to date with all of the action, team news and reaction to Saturday’s game here on the club website at ctfc.com and by following @CTFCofficial on Twitter.

Listen to match commentary on BBC Radio Gloucestershire who will also have a full build up to the game with their matchday show.